The Arena project has three partners, Leicester Riders, Leicester College, and Leicester City Council. All provided funding, along with the Sport England and the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). LCC owns the site at Charter Street and has provided a long-term lease of the site (125 years) to, Leicester Community Sports Arena Limited (LCSAL), owned by the Rider’s charity (Leicester Riders Foundation), with the company paying a commercial rent for the site.

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The Arena project was designed to allow the potential for the development of future additional facilities on site. The Charter Street site was selected by the City Council following a detailed site selection process, which involved 10 possible locations around the city, and involved all relevant stakeholders, over a period from September to December 2013. It is noted the location is on a route of Connecting Leicester (to Abbey Park). The £4.5m Project also included remediation of the (contaminated) site at Charter Street and the provision of car parking and landscaping.

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The Arena project build was led by the Riders through LCSAL, with an agreed management and governance structure with the Council and Leicester College. The Arena is operated on a not-for-profit basis with all surpluses re-invested in the Arena, or in sports community outreach activities in deprived local communities, as are already being delivered by the Riders through the Leicester Riders Foundation.

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The Arena Business Plan leverages the very large community development programmes of Leicester Riders. The Arena will deliver highly structured community sports participation opportunities for the community. The project is designated the Community Arena Project (CAP) and was completed in January 2016.
 

Mattioli Arena is committed to encouraging equality and diversity. The aim is for our staff and customers to be truly representative of all sections of society. And for all users and employee’s to feel respected. The organisation – in providing goods and/or services and/or facilities – is also committed against unlawful discrimination of customers or the public.